Five for Twenty (Or Less)

Once upon a time on a dark stormy night it happened to a friend of a friend  of mine… All viable methods to start off a story. You’ve probably used one or two once or twice to kick off a round of playing the raconteur. Even in its most elaborate forms, theatre is driven by how well its practitioners can tell a story. Below you’ll find five selections from this week’s theatre listings that express the importance of stories and storytelling in one way or another. From the most familiar methods to the more subtle, from exploring the folklore of another culture to exploring the past of the city we walk through every day. Try one of these on for size before you breeze through to The End.

In 40 Years (Bobby Del Rio). This movement-based theatre piece is based on Del Rio’s collection of poems about love. Opens Oct 25 and runs to Nov 4. $10, Sun pwyc. Sterling Studio Theatre, 163 Sterling. bobbydelrio.com.

Day Of The Dead Harbourfront Centre presents a cultural festival featuring a workshop and performance by the Mexican Folkloric Dance company, plus music, art, film and more. Nov 3-4. Free. 235 Queens Quay W. 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

FOOL – Festival Of Oral Literatures (The Tellery). Celebration of spoken word and storytelling with Morgan Jones Phillips, Susan Coyne, Ron Evans, Jan Blake and others. Opens Oct 18 and runs to Nov 11. Free-$20. AGO, Rustic Owl Cafe and Artscape Wychwood Barns, see website for details. foolfestival.com.

Honesty by Jordan Tannahill (Suburban Beast/Koffler Centre of the Arts). A solo performer works at the store and tells the stories of the city’s working class in this performance intervention. Two 90-minute acts with one-hour intermission. Opens Oct 16 and runs to Nov 4. Free. Honest Ed’s, 581 Bloor W. kofflerarts.org.

New Art Night (Living Room Theatre). Short original works and excerpts of longer works by local theatre and literary artists will be presented. Nov 1-3. Pwyc. Unit 102 Theatre, 376 Dufferin. livingroomtheatreto@gmail.com.